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Chen YC, Gonzalez ME, Burman B, Zhao X, Anwar T, Tran M, Medhora N, Hiziroglu AB, Lee W, Cheng YH, Choi Y, Yoon E, Kleer CG. Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cell Engulfment Reveals Metastatic Advantage in Breast Cancer. Cell Rep 2020; 27:3916-3926.e5. [PMID: 31242423 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.05.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Twenty percent of breast cancer (BC) patients develop distant metastasis for which there is no cure. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) in the tumor microenvironment were shown to stimulate metastasis, but the mechanisms are unclear. Here, we identified and quantified cancer cells engulfing stromal cells in clinical samples of BC metastasis by dual immunostaining for EZH2 and ALDH1 expression. Using flow cytometry and a microfluidic single-cell paring and retrieval platform, we show that MSC engulfment capacity is associated with BC cell metastatic potential and generates cells with mesenchymal-like, invasion, and stem cell traits. Whole-transcriptome analyses of selectively retrieved engulfing BC cells identify a gene signature of MSC engulfment consisting of WNT5A, MSR1, ELMO1, IL1RL2, ZPLD1, and SIRPB1. These results delineate a mechanism by which MSCs in the tumor microenvironment promote metastasis and provide a microfluidic platform with the potential to predict BC metastasis in clinical samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chih Chen
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Forbes Institute for Cancer Discovery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Maria E Gonzalez
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Boris Burman
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Xintao Zhao
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Talha Anwar
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Molecular Cellular and Pathology Training Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Mai Tran
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Natasha Medhora
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Ayse B Hiziroglu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Woncheol Lee
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Yu-Heng Cheng
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Yehyun Choi
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Euisik Yoon
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Celina G Kleer
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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Ruan B, Niu Z, Jiang X, Li Z, Tai Y, Huang H, Sun Q. High Frequency of Cell-in-Cell Formation in Heterogeneous Human Breast Cancer Tissue in a Patient With Poor Prognosis: A Case Report and Literature Review. Front Oncol 2019; 9:1444. [PMID: 31921689 PMCID: PMC6930920 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.01444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell cannibalism is a unique pathological phenomenon that has been observed at low frequency in a variety of human tumor samples (<0.5%), including breast cancer. Cannibalistic cells typically form cell-in-cell (CIC) structures characterized by enclosure of one cell or more by another, mediating a novel type of cell death "entosis," which was proposed as the type IV cell death. A large number of CIC structures are generally associated with malignant transformation and progression, and they are believed to be primed by and form among heterogeneous cells. However, there is currently no in vivo evidence from human tumor samples. In this case report, covering a 37-year-old female breast cancer patient, we observed considerable heterogeneity and proliferative activity (>70% Ki-67 positivity) in her breast cancer cells, accompanied by high frequency of CIC formation (~6%) and poor prognosis. We consider this a typical example of cell cannibalism, supporting a role of heterogeneity in cell-in-cell formation and malignant progression. It may serve as a pretest basis for further investigations of cell-in-cell biology and breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Banzhan Ruan
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Biology, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
- Laboratory of Cell Engineering, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Zubiao Niu
- Laboratory of Cell Engineering, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyi Jiang
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Laboratory of Cell Engineering, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhuo Li
- The Fifth Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yanhong Tai
- The Fifth Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hongyan Huang
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Sun
- Laboratory of Cell Engineering, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
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Abstract
Cell-in-cell structures are reported in numerous cancers, and their presence is an indicator for poor prognosis. Mechanistic studies have identified how cancer cells manage to ingest whole neighbouring cells to form such structures, and the consequences of cell-in-cell formation on cancer progression have been elucidated. In this Opinion article, we discuss how two related cell-in-cell processes, cell cannibalism and entosis, are regulated and how these mechanisms promote cancer progression. We propose that cannibalistic activity is a hallmark of cancer that results in part from selection by metabolic stress and serves to feed aggressive cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Fais
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
| | - Michael Overholtzer
- Cell Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
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